WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael Barnes, Executive Director of the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence (CLAAD) today released the following statements in response to the Obama-Biden Administration's issuance of draft guidance on the evaluation and labeling of abuse-deterrent opioid medications:

The Obama-Biden Administration states that it intends to incentivize the development of safer medications, but its actions discredit its words. The Administration's January 1 decision to allow generic, non-abuse-deterrent products on the market after abuse-deterrent versions of them are available dealt a blow to the fragile market for safer medications that could prove to be fatal.

Third-party payors and pharmacists are financially motivated to dispense cheaper, generic medications. Enhanced labeling for abuse-deterrent medications will not be effective at encouraging the dispensing of these newer, safer products. Only a market transition in which branded and generic medications alike are abuse-deterrent will make a difference in the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

The Administration's approach to abuse-deterrent medications reflects bureaucratic risk aversion and political indifference at their worst.

The Administration's sloth underscores the need for a legislative mandate to force the executive branch to do the right thing and support a market transition to safer medications.

About the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence

The non-profit Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence (CLAAD) coordinates a comprehensive national effort to prevent the diversion, misuse, and abuse of prescription medications while ensuring adequate medical care for patients in need. CLAAD enables health professionals, law enforcement, businesses, and government, among many other entities, to share resources and work together to reduce prescription drug abuse, addiction, and overdoses. CLAAD's National Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy has been endorsed by 30 non-profit organizations and may be accessed online at www.claad.org. Follow @claad_coalition.

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